System and Method for Expediting and Automating Mainframe Computer Setup

1. A method to remotely install an operating system upgrade and at least one optional product on a mainframe computer system using a personal computer over a communication network, said method comprising: performing system discovery to determine existing components installed on said mainframe computer system before said discovery is performed and further to determine how said mainframe computer system is configured, wherein said performing said system discovery occurs substantially automatically; generating information in response to said system discovery wherein said information represents said existing components and said configuration; storing said information representing said existing components and said configuration in a database; transferring a plurality of mainframe operating system components comprising said operating system upgrade to said mainframe; establishing a communication session over said communication network between said personal computer and said mainframe computer, and receiving from said personal computer instructions to control installation of said operating system upgrade; combining said plurality of mainframe operating system components with said existing components and customizing said combination of components in response to receiving said instructions to enable said mainframe to perform a first initial program load, wherein said combining and said customizing are performed automatically using said information; performing said first initial program load on said mainframe computer system; receiving from said personal computer a selection of said at least one optional product to be included in said upgrade; installing said at least one optional product identified in said selection in said mainframe computer system; and performing a second initial program load to implement said at least one optional product.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said existing components include at least one of a partition, volume, partitioned data set, and identifier of a user in a RACF directory.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said communication network is the Internet.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said mainframe computer system and said personal computer system communicate over a TCP/IP connection.

5. A system for a remote installation of at least one of an operating system upgrade and an optional product on a mainframe computer system, said system comprising: a personal computer, said personal computer programmed and configured to interface with said mainframe computer system over a communication network; a system discovery module, said system discovery module configured to: perform system discovery to determine existing components installed on said mainframe computer system and how said mainframe computer system is configured, wherein said system discovery occurs substantially automatically; generate information in response to said system discovery, wherein said information represents said existing components and said configuration; and store said information representing said existing components and said configuration in a database; an operating system transfer module, said operating system transfer module configured to transfer a plurality of mainframe operating system components comprising said operating system upgrade to said mainframe after said system discovery is performed; and an upgrade installation module, said upgrade installation module configured to: combine said plurality of mainframe operating system components with said existing components and customize said combination of components in response to receiving instructions from said personal computer, wherein said combining and said customizing are performed automatically using said information; perform an initial program load using said combination of components on said mainframe computer system; receive a selection of said optional product from said personal computer to be included in said upgrade after said initial program load; and install said optional product identified in said selection.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein said existing components include at least one of a partition, volume, partitioned data set, and identifier of a user in a RACF directory.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein said communication network is the Internet.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein said mainframe computer system and said personal computer system communicate over a TCP/IP connection.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said discovery includes gathering information associated with one or more of a RACF database, IPL, PARMLIB parameters, UCB/EDT tables, SYSRES volume information, TCP/IP profile, VTAM members, catalogs, page data sets, SMS and ACS information, APF, SMP global zones, LPA list information, and SMP-E zone locations.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said system files are compressed prior to being transmitted to said personal computer.